Mange Manicotti

Today was great at the bakeshop, although I have to admit getting out of bed was tough. I didn't fall asleep until after 10 so the 3 am wake up was a rough one. Once I was up and going it was fine though. I'm really enjoying my days there. The master baker is pretty open to letting me do things and sort of shows me what to do and stops by to check on how I'm doing, but pretty much leaves me to it. I'm hoping to get the next several Friday nights off from the restaurant so I can go into the bakeshop around 11 pm to help prep food items for a big holiday function in December. Anyway, today I learned how to make pastry cream, made pumpkin pie filling and filled up pies, made mini pumkin cheesecake tarts from start to finish, and did some of the daily prep of muffins and getting trays together. Her recipe for pastry cream was much easier than the one I did at a class last year at the local culinary school. I ended up staying a bit past my usual time to help slice up some strawberries that will top some tarts (that will get said pastry cream) at a big function tomorrow. I was feeling tired by the end of the day but woke up after I went for a run. I am definitely a bit more awake following some exercise but its just too early for that on my bakeshop days.

I had to force myself to eat something before heading in this morning. I drank a big espresso and had some marathon bread with cinnamon raisin pb. I knew even though I didn't feel hungry at 3:30, it would be at least 4 hours until breakfast. I made myself some instant oats again today with cinnamon, a few raisins, a touch of brown sugar (I know I don't need it, but can't avoid it when its offered), a small banana, and about a 1/4 cup of blueberries. I also had a little of a lemon poppyseed muffin top that one of the other girls didn't want. I love the top of muffins and she preferred the bottom. It was yummy and had a nice flavor but I was full. I was trying to plan ahead for my run so at my second break I had some colombo light yogurt...uhm yuck. I had the fat free kind the other day and that was good. All I could taste with the light version was the artificial sweeteners.

Before my run I had a few shredded wheat, but by the end wished I had eaten more. I could not wait to have lunch/big snack. I quickly showered and then threw together an open faced chicken salad sandwich with my leftover chicken. I just diced it up and combined it with some chopped celery, about a teaspoon of mustard, a tiny bit of light mayo, and some ground black pepper. It was so good, especially since the chicken still had its flavorings from last night. I ate it on a toasted, light multigrain english muffin. Alongside it I had some baby carrots and the rest of the celery stalk with nonfat cottage cheese (I had more carrots than whats pictured). Then it was attack of the sweet tooth and I had a few small spoonfuls of ice cream, a ginger thin, and a pumpkin cake tower (I am slowly taking down a castle).




I didn't end up eating until after 3 so it worked out and kept me from nibbling while I made dinner (other than seasoning tests). I'll usually end up full before the meal is even done! I have a habit of falling asleep with Food Network on so most days I wake up to infomercials, but on the weekends they start broadcasting again at 7 am. I woke up to Giada making this awesome looking manicotti the other day and knew I wanted to try it (with some changes). She made a swiss chard and sweet pea manicotti with a fontina fondue sauce. I decided I'd rather have a red sauce because it would give me some more veggies (fruit, whatever), save some fat and calories, and most importantly, I like red sauce with manicotti. I substitued fat free ricotta and reduced fat mozzarella cheese, and definitely used less salt (big pinch of kosher to start, and then added a little more after tasting). I probably used more pepper as well. I used pam olive oil spray to grease the baking dish also. I made an addition of some arugula with the swiss chard. In place of the fontina sauce I used a bottled (I think Classico brand) tomato and basil sauce. It was fabulous! The filling reminded me of a creamy pesto with the fragrant basil and it had a lovely color. This recipe was a winner! I ate what is pictured (but gave some of the cheese to mom) plus another skinny one.





I definitely did not need a big dessert tonight so I had a few dried apricots and a piece of a chocolate pretzel. Ok, and a tiny spoonful of ice cream (not pictured). It is my biggest weakness I think!


I'm off to bed. Hopefully I fall asleep easier than I have the last two nights! I'll "see" you tomorrow!